Ally Cantrell is an Arkansas native residing in downtown Little Rock. She has had an extensive career in the arts, gaining recognition in her early years for her photorealistic graphite drawings. Over time, she has transitioned into abstract mixed media painting, concentrating on the exploration of texture with consideration towards minimalism. It is an invitation to the viewer to step away from the overstimulation we so often experience in this modern world; to instead pause and exist in the granular detail of a moment in time.
About
When was the last time you just… paused? When was the last moment you held silent the thoughts that race, closed all the tabs and just held space for the here and now? When was the last time you allowed yourself to just be and breathe and observe this world that’s whirling around you? My art is an invitation to pause. Get lost in the granular details of your surroundings. Zoom so far into that place, that moment, until that is all there is. Silence the noise and feel.
Living with OCD and chronic anxiety, my work enables me to hold space and honor breath. I strive to celebrate the simple essence of existence through minimalistic abstract paintings. I work with a limited color palette but a variety of textures, creating a calming moment that still allows the viewer to traverse a world of intricacies across the canvas.
My early art career was centered around photorealism which involves constant analysis and hyper-precision. With age comes the courage to let go of expectation of outcome. I am learning to just be. My process is now intuitive, an exploration into an unfolding narrative as I allow each piece to decide its own direction.
When I create, the noise of modern life draws silent. I create for those ready/needing/wanting to step away from the noise of this modern life. For anyone who suffers from the overstimulation, the stress, the mess. Pause - embrace this place; embrace this peace; embrace this quiet.